National Grid operates a portfolio of high-voltage direct current interconnectors that move up to 8 GW of electricity between the UK and France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway. These subsea cables help balance the grid when wind generation dips or demand peaks, allowing imports of low-carbon power from hydro-rich Scandinavia and nuclear-heavy France. The interconnector services are structured into different products for generators, suppliers, and traders, with capacity booked through regulated auctions. For investors, interconnector revenues come from regulated tariffs and congestion rents overseen by Ofgem. National Grid plans to expand capacity with new links like Viking Link to Denmark as the UK pushes toward net zero. The company positions these cables as a way to reduce curtailment of renewable assets and cut the emissions intensity of delivered electricity, which feeds into its climate metrics. Operationally, National Grid publishes availability data and outage plans on dedicated platforms, with high availability targets to keep cross-border trade flowing. Planned maintenance and technical incidents can move wholesale prices, so the company focuses on asset monitoring and rapid fault response. The digital platforms also offer APIs and data downloads for trading desks to integrate interconnector information into their models.
